the red queen

throwing caution to the wind in the book reading department
means bypassing normal stringent selection criteria
and in this case taking on this historical, female-oriented novel
the red queen is in fact a real-life korean crown princess
the first part of the book is the telling of her life story
from the point of view of the princess now in spirit form
the author has based the book on historical documents
and so it is a great insight to life in that time and place
the princess is born into an upper-class family and has a happy childhood
then at the age of 10 is married off to the crown prince
and then faithfully stands by him through thick and thin
for her husband is at the mercy of his dictatorial father
the then king of korea who rules with an iron fist
her new husband also has a mental health issue
known today as paranoid schizophrenia
but in the late 18th century has no identity, drugs or cure
and so prince sado lives a wretched and unhappy life
which affects all those around him particularly his young wife
but she has a strong affection towards him and makes allowances
it's very easy to get drawn into this story
ambition, jealousy, politics, entrapment, loyalty are strong themes
brutality and murder is a part of life and comes close to the princess
particularly when her own husband suffers a long, slow death
she turns to writing and documents her sad life in 4 differing volumes
by the time of her own death at old age we know her well
the first chapter (ancient times) is in fact 166 pages long
but it is all just so easily consumed as it sets up part 2
the second chapter (modern times) is in the 3rd person
dr barbara halliwell has mysteriously been sent the books
on the eve of the departure to seoul for a conference
she is drawn to the story of the princess from the past
and upon arrival in korea has some unexpected encounters
that sees her absorb and observe korean culture
including visits to the palaces where part 1 is based
this all results in a great empathy to the princess and her story
for the doctor has suffered very similarly in love, life and loss
this second part of the book covers just 3 days in korea
but again by the end of it we know the leading lady well
and are aware of the spiritual connection from the past
the climax of the book reminds us this is more than a novel
as the author herself cleverly steps into the story
to legitimise the facts of at least the story of the ancient times
and presumably the actual existence of the journals
this is one totally engrossing and entertaining read
or as the book is described on the cover
a transnational tragicomedy
...if not a travel guide
seoul here I come